UTV, September 5, 2002
McGuinness lashes out at unionism
Belfast police commander Alan McQuillan confirmed yesterday
that loyalist paramilitaries were orchestrating
most of the violence in flashpoint areas
Unionists were accused today of manufacturing a crisis in the peace process
by claiming that republicans have been responsible for sectarian street
violence.
Sinn Fein MP Martin McGuinness said comments by a senior police officer that
loyalist paramilitaries were orchestrating most of the violence in
flashpoint areas had undermined attempts by anti-Agreement unionists to
spark a fresh crisis.
``This in fact is a vindication of what Sinn Fein have been saying and
indeed many of the residents in areas like north Belfast and east Belfast
have been saying over the course of the summer,`` he said.
Belfast police commander Alan McQuillan confirmed at yesterday`s meeting of
the Policing Board that a ``significant`` majority of attacks had come from
loyalists.
"All of this clearly undermines attempts that were made by the unionist
political leadership to portray republicans as being responsible," added Mr
McGuinness.
But senior unionists have reacted with astonishment at Mr McQuillan`s
comments.
Ulster Unionist East Belfast Assembly member Sir Reg Empey said he had
witnessed orchestrated attacks by republicans on unionists in his
constituency.
``In Cluan Place 18 out of 22 families have been forced out from homes after
repeated sectarian attacks. Five people have been shot in east Belfast by
republican snipers in attacks described by other more responsible police
officers as attempted murder,`` he said.
Denying earlier claims that the IRA has also been orchestrating trouble in
interface areas, Mr McGuinness accused those who have called a meeting of
the UUP Ruling Council to discuss remaining in government with Sinn Fein, of
deliberately setting out to collapse the power-sharing institutions.
``In my opinion the only real crisis exists within unionism and that is
something that unionism needs to deal with.
I have no doubt looking at the way the political situation is shaping up,
the upcoming meeting of the Ulster Unionist council, the attempts being made
by the rejectionist unionists within Mr Trimble`s own party to try and
dislodge the UUP from these institutions, all of that represents a real
challenge to all of us.``
He urged pro-Agreement members of the UUP to face down the dissidents who
are determined to see the end of the Stormont administration.
"Given what we have learned in the course of recent days, the confirmation
of what Sinn Fein and others have been saying about what has been happening
within loyalism and unionism, there is a real responsibility for us all to
be honest about how we move forward."
Mr McGuinness called for republicans not to retaliate to attacks.
``Of course there have been, I think idiots from within the nationalist
republican community who have gone out and attacked Protestant schools and
churches.
I condone none of that. I tell all these people that they should catch
themselves on, they should recognise that retaliating against the vast bulk
of attacks coming from loyalists is the road to nowhere for all of us.``